Biography Clara McChesney

Clara J. Taggert McChesney was born in Brownsville, CA in 1860. The McChesney family settled in Oakland when Clara was a child. Her father, Joseph B. McChesney, was principal of Oakland High School.

Opting for an art career, she studied in San Francisco at the School of Design under Virgil Williams, in New York at Gotham Art School under Mowbray and Beckwith, and in Paris at Académie Colarossi under Girardot and Courtois. Although most of her career was spent in NYC, she made trips to California to visit the family. She died in London, England on Aug. 6, 1928. Working in watercolor and oil, her subjects often include children.

Nearly 20,000 biographies can be found in Artists in California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes and is available for sale ($150). For a full book description and order information please click here.
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